Concerning the Condition of My Soul

I have been reading...well listening to, Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan every morning on my way to work. SO many things strike me as I listen.  SO much scripture used and great imagery.
It is only natural that I would have some thoughts come to mind in which to share.  So probably for a few weeks this book may be the inspiration and reference for some of my blogs.
A quote from the book....

"Do you mean how I first became concerned about the condition of my soul?”  said by Hopeful, Christians companion on his pilgrimage.  What a statement!!
That moment in our lives when we became concerned about the condition of our soul and knew that we had to do something about it!
Oh I think there are those, who for a moment, or maybe for a time, have a passing concern: the death of someone close or near their age; someone poses the question "where will you go when you die?"; a dire illness or injury; make them think about their spiritual status...only to be distracted by life, things of this world, selfish ambition....what ever it may be.. they forget, or don't care enough to allow the concern for their soul to propel them into  life changing action.
 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24
How tragic...

When we consider the condition of our soul we should be completely overwhelmed by the sorry state in which it is.  We can do nothing of consequence on our own, we are sinful by nature, and unclean.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:21-25

THE ONLY thing that can remove the sin, create cleanliness, is the blood of Christ,

"Well, He died 2000 years ago....how can His blood help me now?"

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
The POWER of His resurrection through faith in Him and through HIS righteousness is for TODAY! for right now!
But we MUST be concerned enough about our spiritual state to do something about it....that we allow Christ to show us who we really are, we SEE ourselves ....and then do something about it!

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25
 I pray that you consider the condition of your soul today....and your response is "My sorry soul has been redeemed by the blood!" AMEN!